Va.'s Warner a Possible 2008 Contender

Foxnews.com ^ | 14 January 2005

[Aussie Dasher]

Democratic Gov. Mark R. Warner was more than halfway through his single term in office before he even found his footing. Now, all of a sudden, he is being mentioned for the Senate in 2006 and the White House in 2008.

The breakthrough came last year, when he prevailed against all odds and pushed a big tax overhaul -- and a big tax increase, too -- through the Republican-dominated Legislature, and still managed to look like a fiscal moderate. It was the first general tax increase in Virginia since 1986.

As Warner enters his final year, his job approval ratings are high, and he is being talked up as the sort of centrist Dixie Democrat who might show his leaderless party how to win again in the South and retake the presidency.

His name has come up in nationally syndicated columns, on political talk shows, in Newsweek and on blogs as Democrats grope for a new direction after John Kerry's defeat.

Warner waves off such talk -- at least for now -- as a distraction that could hamper his ability to work with the Legislature.

"Too many Virginia governors have messed up their last year because they've spent too much time thinking about what they're going to do next," he said in an interview last week.

[Aussie Dasher]

OK folks, give me the lowdown on this joker...

[Republican Wildcat]

I think the low-down comes in the first sentence of the second paragraph "a big tax increase." Sadly a "Republican" legislature's name is also attached to it.

[Anti-MSM]

I'm having a hard time believing that campaigning on tax increases will help turn a red state blue (hoping him winning the VA gov election was an aberration).

[Wally_Kalbacken]

In your drug induced dreams!

[freespirited]

Made a lot of money selling cell phones.

[Patriot814]

Sean Hannity's in love with him, sadly Zell Miller likes him too.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The Dims would each sell a first born to get another sociopathic, Clinton-clone snake-oil salesman.

[KoRn]

He would be a bit scary compared to what we are used to seeing from their side. He could maintain Northeastern Liberal support, while peeling away some Southern States maybe. It depends on what the DIM primary is like, and what positions he takes.

I would consider him a threat, but Hillary will stand in his way.

[Natchez Hawk]

They can try all they want...no dim VA governor has a shot at anything but their 15 minutes. The single term limit, means that any credit who has high aspirations must spend time In the Senate--John Not Mark and Allen Not Rob.

[Bigjimslade]

This guy is a political hack that pretends to be moderate. In his first election he had signs all over the place with shotguns on them that said sportsmen for Warner. If you knew the people posting the signs very few of them had ever held a gun. He basically won because of a rough primary that turned off moderate repubs towards his opponent and polls that predicted he would win in a landslide when it actually turned out to be pretty close.

One of his first moves was to try to force the people of VA to increase their own taxes by tricking them into thinking it would make traffic better. He pushed the resolution behind the scenes and tons of money was poured into promoting the idea as well as the cost of the voting itself. If only that money was spent on the roads we may have fixed some of the problems. Warner was willing to waste a ton of money just so he couldn't be blamed for the tax increase. Of course the people around Washington and the people around Norfolk both voted down the measures. So what did Warner do ? Raise taxes anyway.

My feeling is that if it was really necessary in the first place it takes a leader to do what is needed. Not try to cop out of the situation so he can't be blamed. Of course it wasn't really necessary.

There is a big push in VA now to make Warner and the republicans that sided with him pay in the next elections for the tax increases.

The problem around here is that there are really no local sources of news that are anything short of ultra-liberal. You just don't here about the crap this guy pulls but you do get all the fluff pieces about him like Clinton used to get every single day. You know the hard hitting headlines like: "Clinton loves puppies and children". It is pretty frustrating but this guy is really vulnerable if the repubs can get their message out in this area.

[Goodgirlinred]

I guess he has not done too bad, but I voted Republican.

[Goodgirlinred]

Unfortunately, John Warner is getting on in years. I am not certain that Senator Allen is seasoned enough.

[Gopher Broke]

Remember Warner's 3 campaign promises/3 lies:
- I will not raise your taxes
- I will offer teacher raises in all budgets
- I will support the ban of partial birth abortion

Warner is a liar...not sure what is to admire in that.

Mark Warner got his millions in cell phones when he worked for Senator Dodd and the US Senate was handing out Cell Phone franchises....amazing coincidence that he ended up with cell phone territories and made his automatic millions...

[Aussie Dasher]

So has Warner got much hope?

As a Dem, I automatically assumed him a liar!